Mansfield councillor breaks out the hedgecutter to tackle overgrown pathway

Coun Ben Brown, who has been elected to represent West Bank, fired up his hedgecutter and attacked the swathes of greenery that included weeds and nettles blocking the footpath from Pheasant Hill to Dunsil Road.

The path runs behind Queen Elizabeth's Academy, which is run by the Diverse Academies Trust, but the pathway land itself is owned by the Queen Elizabeth's Endowed School Trust.

Coun Brown said: "I have been contacted by a number of disabled and elderly constituents, as well as parents of schoolchildren, all of whom were unhappy that the public footpath behind Queen Elizabeth's Academy was essentially impassable.

"Maintenance work had been neglected for a considerable period of time, leading to thousands of nettles blocking the path.

"One elderly lady couldn't get her mobility scooter past and had to take a very long, and unacceptable detour."

Coun Brown said he had contacted the trust which runs the academy about the issue as he believes it has legal responsibility for the path's upkeep, but having received no reply from them, he decided to tackle the job off his own bat.

He posted a photo and video on his Facebook page of him tackling the overgrown greenery with a hedgecutter – and accused QEEST of "not being bothered" about the issue.

He said: "If you want a job doing, do it yourself.

"Seeing as the trust can't be bothered to reply or even acknowledge my letters, I've taken matters into my own hands.

"The pathway used to to be an absolute state of the nettles but not anymore."

A QEEST spokesperson said: "I am sorry that Coun Brown is so upset with the trust but it is absolutely not the case that the trust is not bothered about this issue.

"Coun Brown emailed the trust on May 25 and on the same day, a copy of his email was sent to the chair and vice-chair of the trust and a project manager who undertakes work on behalf of the trust.

"The project manager responded the next day to inform the chair and vice-chair that he would inspect the area and arrange for any work required to be undertaken by a company used by the trust for gardening and clearance work.

"The action needed was agreed the next day and no follow-up email was received from Coun Brown and the trust was unaware that he had undertaken any work.

"The matter was also agreed to be on the agenda of the next meeting of the trust on June 6.

"In no way is it correct that the trust ‘can't be bothered’.

"I would highlight that this is a very small trust with no full-time employees which operates to provide financial assistance to pupils attending Queen Elizabeth Academy.

"I think that action taken within a day of receiving an email does not suggest or imply an organisation that can't be bothered – in fact, quite the contrary.

"The trust received only one contact and this was acted on within a day."